The Irish standard., 1887-06-18
VIM. O'BRIEN IN AMERICA.
The Philadelphia Incident Explained
by John Fitzgerald, President
Of the I. N. T..
WHY Mr.. FITZGERALD ADVISED
Wi.llam O Rrlen 60 Z hstaln from YlSltlnz
the Quaker City During His
Tour Through America.

To prevent all misconception Of his
motives in advising William OBrien
not to accept the invitation to visit
Philadelphia, President Fitzgerald. OF
the Irish National League Of America:
addressed the following letter to the
Vice. President of the League, MI Nc
Caffrey Of Philadelphia:
Hugh McCaffrev. Esq, Vice-Presi-
dent Irish National League and Chair
man Municipal Council I. n. l.. A.,
Phila delphia, Pa.-Dear Sir: | have re-
ceived several newspaper cuttings fr"m
Philadelphia inclosed in an envelope
without any letter accompanying them.
In one of these cuttings it is stated that
my advice to Mr.: O'Brien to avoid
Philadelphia has been construed as
personal affront to yourself. / would
be doing you an injustice to believe
that you would consider any action Of
mine in that light. nor can find any
motive that would i,npel me to do 80.
These cuttings also intimate other
reasons for my action equally ground
less and unworthy OF attention.
I advised Mr.. O'Brien to abstain from
visiting Philadelphia tor reasons thas ]
am confident will meet the appreciation
not only of yourself but OF everv right
minded Irishman and every American
sympathizer. I will briefly state the
reasons that impelled me to the course
| adopted.
at the present moment the London
Times and the combined Tory Uuionist
party have entered into vile consplr-
acy to |)lacken the regulations Of Par
nell and his colleagues, by representing
them as connected with the .C1ar-r1a-
Gael in America. The Times openly
accuses the parliamentary party and
the IRISH National League as being
identical with ne CIan-na- Gael The
hostile British press, following the lead
of Major Saunderson. denonnces the
Clan-na- Gael as q, nill1er society, and
by word and pen that association is held
up to the eyes Of i1ng1ishmen as the pro-
moter Of outrage and assassination,
do not for a moment give credence
to these charges against that organiza-
tion, but IN England it is hard to 1e-
move the effect Of these vile cstInmnies
Not long since read that Mr.. Deasy,
enc of the Irish delegates at the Chicago
convention, had fayorab]y impressed
All English audience in Lincolnshire by
his arguments and his temperate lam
guage, but the local paper. while ac-
knowledging all this. fell back upon its
prejudice and it's only argument was
"that the Irish party bad failed to dis
connect itself witha certain murder So
ciety IN America
Now, while every effort is being made
to connect the Irish party with The
Clan-na Gael, and in an especial man
ner to identify the Irish National
League of America with tina associa-
tion, it becomes my bounden duty to
take measures that will put stop to
the prevalence of such an idea.
I found that the Clanna Gael Asso-
citation had determined to take lead
ing part in the reception of Mr.. O'Brien
in Philadelphia. Ostensibly the invita-
tion came from the municipal CO. neil
of the League, through your good self
whep you received Mr. OBrien at New
York, but it was evident that the mem
bers of the Clan-na Gael were deter
mined to advertise their society by
their prominence in O'Brien:s recep-
ton. have no reason to doubt their
sincerity, but if sincere there is no op-
tion but to condemn their evident want
Of discretion.
At a time when the enemies Of the
Irish party and Of their English friends
are using every effort to connect Mr..
Parnell and his colleagues with the
Clan ma Gael ASSOCIATION, as a means Of
fastening upon them the vile charges
that have appeared in the Times, l
could not allow Mr.. O'Brien to go to
Philadelphia, all unconscious of the
facts, to be practically TIE guest Of the
Clan na-Gael, and ther:-by to give the
enemies Of Ireland further opportunity
of misleading that British public
opinion upon which tho success of the
Irish cause depends to-day.
When I accepted the honor of Presi-
dent of the League publicly declared
that would be President Of no society.
and Of no clique. but of the Irish Ma
tional League of America, and from my
knowledge Of the principles Of the
League, the platform is broad enough
to admit every Irishman that honestly
desires to serve his motherland. l am
determined while in that position to
keep the league free Of all entangling
alliances with any organization or So